Camp body



April 6 1926.

E. O. HUMPHREY CAMP BODY Filed Jan. 22 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Erasmm 0. HM 0hr 6:]

Q &b

ATTORNEY April 6 1926. 1,579,815

E. o. HUMPHREY CAMP BODY Filed Jan. 22- 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 24 W20 v 6 INVENTOR. Eraslnws (j. Hwy 110171 493 A TTORNEY April 6 1926. 1,579,815

- E. o. HUMPHREY CAMP BODY Filed Jan. "22. 1924 5 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR. Eratslnuvs 0. H111 nplzl'fl g Q .msm

A TTORNEY people.

Patented Apr. 6, 1926.-

UNITED STATES v -.1,s19,s15 PATENT OFFICE.

EBASMUS O. HUMPHREY, 0F RIPON, CALIFORNIA.

CAMP BOD'Y.

Application filed January 22, 1924. Serial No. csmos.

1 I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This'invention relates tolimprovements in camping equipment for use particularly by automobile campers, the principal object of my invention being to provide a body, mounted on wheels to be drawn as a trailer, or without wheels to be carried directly on the automobile, which contains all the essentials for camping.

More specifically, mounted in the body are folding beds, a tent-like covering for the same, and when, the beds are outstretched and the tent up, an open area enclosed by said tent is had in the body so that cookingand other operations may be carried out in case and comfort, and without the campers having to leave the body. In this manner,

the campers may prepare and ,eat their meals,

such structure and relative arrangement of dress or undress, and retire, under a single covered enclosure Wlt-llOlZtlGfiVlIlg the same and without stepping on the ground.

I preferably have in mind to provide the interior ofthe body with cabinets and all other'equipment necessary for culinary and similar purposes, which equipment can be made in different forms and capable of different set-ups to meet the tastes of different While bed area sufficient to accommodate four adults is provided, and full standing room between said beds and under the cover-' ing is had when the beds are unfolded and the covering is up, at thesame time the various parts are so mounted in the body that distributing the various individual pieces of equipment about the vehicle to carry the same. Careful packing and unpacking must be had every time a camp is made or broken; the tent must be set up on good ground, the bedding and cots, if such are used, set up separately, and the culinary utensils unpacked as well as the food containers and distributed. about the tent or elsewhere.

Aside from the loss of time occasioned by these operations, very little comfort is obtained, especially as the ground is usually dry and dusty, or damp, and apt to be covered with rocks or vegetable growths, which interfere with easy walking and the setting up of any equipment so as to be level.

Vith my improved device, the beds are permanently attached to the body and to the tent, and the remaining equipment is also permanently carried in the body. When .once unfolded and the tent up, the beds are ready for occupancy, and the preparation of a meal may at once be started if necessary.

Further, the equipment when folded is so protected as to be immune. from the soiling effect of dirt and dust incident to travel,

' which is not the case when the equipment is erence indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Fig-1 is a side elevation of the body as mounted on wheels, with the parts folded,

but with the functioning.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, with one bed unfolded, the tent covering being omitted to better show the parts.

ground supporting members Fig. 3 is a similar view, but with both beds unfolded and with the ridge-pole in place. Fig. L is a similar view of the device ready for occupancy, with the tent or covering in lace. P Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views showing the connectingmeans of the two beds with the body proper,

Fig. 7 is a front view of the body with the parts as in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an end inseetion, showing the position of the bed members and tent covering when folded.

Referring now more particularly to the view of the body, partly shaped member 6. The apex of this member is provided with a drawbar connection usable when said member is horizontally disposed.

When the camp is to be made, the member 6 is set in an upright position, its two legs then resting on the ground.

At the rear end of the body, and thereunder is hinged a step structure 7, adapted to extend down to and rest on the ground, or to be folded up to lie under the floor of the body. The members 6 and 7 when down form rigid supports for the body independently of the wheels, and by taking the weight ofi' the springs, hold the body against longitudinal or lateral deflection due to spring action.

In vertical alinement with the steps the adjacent end wall of the body has a solid gate 8 hinged along one vertical edge and adapted to swing out from a closed position.

Hinged along one side wall adjacent the upper edge thereof as shown at 9 in Fig. 6, is a deep cover 10 for the entire body, arranged to be swung to lie outwardly of the body in a horizontal position. In this cover is permanently mounted a bed-spring structure of suitable character, as indicated at 11. To this cover, which forms one of the .beds of my device, are attached flexible tension members such as chains 12, which extend to connections with rigid and substantially inverted V-shaped frames 13, such connections with said frames being had adjacent the upper ends of the latter. The frames are pivoted on the end walls inside ,the same and adjacent their upper edges,

and are of a length such that they will fold down and lie lengthwise of and in the body just under the cover.

Eyes 14 at the upper ends of the'frames are adapted to receive the hook-lugs 15 provided on the ends of a ridge-pole 16 when the said frames are moved to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Hinged along the other side wall 2 inside the same and a certain distance below the upper edge thereof as shown at 17 in Fig. 5 is another bed frame 18, having a snug fit inside the body, and adapted to be swung upwardly and outwardly of the adjacent side to lie horizontally as shown in Fig. 3', this being done only after the other bed member and the frames 13 are unfolded. Flexible members 20 similar to the members 12 are connected to the frames 13 and 18 in the same manner and relative location as said members 12. The bed frames are thus firmly held against sagging down from a proper horizontal position.

Suitable bed-springs 21 are permanently mounted in the frame 18, and mattresses 22 are supported on both springs 11 and 21.

Foldable rail structures are permanently mounted along the outer edges of the bed frames 10 and 18, these rails folding inwardly of the bed frames, and when so folded, serving to hold the mattresses, and any bedding provided in connection therewith, from slipping out of place 'when the frames are raised for folding. A flexible covering 24, preferably of canvas, is provided to cover the entire unfolded structure, as shown in Fig. 4.

This covering is permanently mounted to the frames 18- and 10, outside the former and inside the latter, along the outer side and front end edges thereof, and partly along the rear edges. It is fashioned or shaped so as to extend upwardly from said side edges to the top of the rails 23, and thence at an angle to and over the ridge pole for the full length thereof, hanging down vertically at the ends. At the rear end of the body (which is that end having the gate and steps) the covering 24: is vertically slit to form flaps 25 of the customary character, which may be held together when desired by any suitable and ordinary means. This covering when folded down, along with the bed frames, fits in between the lower frame 18 and the upper cover frame 10, which as before stated, is part of the upper bed member.

It will be evident that when the beds are unfolded, the entire area of the body is exposed, and all the space therein, except for what little is required by the beds when folded, may be used for storing and carry ing food, raiment, cooking utensils, and any other equipment desired.

Just what the interior arrangement and form of receptacles etc. shall be, is somewhat a matter of individual taste. For myself, however, I utilize a number of rec-- tangular cabinets and other devices 26 to contain utensils, food, water, etc.-whioh when packed occupy all the available space in the body as shown in Fig. 3, the beds when folded resting thereon.

\Vhile some of these cabinets are per1nanent fixtures others, especially those in the center of the body or in alinement with the gate 8, are removable, being intended when in use to be raised and placed on one or the other of the fixed cabinets, as shown in Fig. at, thus leaving an unobstructed central aisle or passageway, the height of the fixed cabinets being such that the'available tops thereof serve as seats for the occupants.

The device is to be made so that the beds will be of standard length, and the body is of the greatestwidth, possible without increasing the standard wheel-gauge. In other words, the body will be over six feet long'and about four feet Wide.

' This provides two beds of approximately these dimensions, or ample to accommodate fourpersons. 0

It will also-be seen that if the ridge-pole supporting frames are made as longas possible, standing room of 6 feet or over'plus the depth of the body will be had above the central aisle in the body, where all cooking and other operations are carried out. Such operations may therefore. be carried out with ease and comfort. v. To unfold the equipment, and place the same in operative positions, the members 6, and 7 are first lowered into their bodysupporting positions.

The cover 10 is then thrown back, which partially raises the covering 24 and also the frames 13, as shown in Fig. 2. The operator then reaches through the opening in the canvas, straightens up the frames 13 and mounts the ridge pole in place between said frames. The ridge pole is the only oose piecein the entire structure, and is usually carried just "inside the cover 10. This operation done, the other bed frame 18 is then swungoutwardly into position.

The operator may then easily get under the covering to raisethe rails 23, when the canvas will assume" its natural taut position, the rails supporting the canvas against sagging along the sides and holding it in shape.

The movable cabinets may then be moved to clear the center aisle, when the camp is ready for occupancy and use.

I With a reversal of the above named operations, the equipment is as quickly folded up in the body ready for transportation.

From the foregoing description it will be r readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice siich deviations from such detail may be resorted to asdo not form a de arture from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended c aims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A camping structure comprising a body, .bed members hinged along opposite sides of the same and adapted to be swung outwardly to lie in horizontal and opposed relation or to be folded to lie in superimposed order and in inverted relation on the body, a flexible tent-like covering for the body and bed members when the latter are outstretched permanently mounted in connection therewitlnand collapsible supporting means for the covering permanently mounted on the bodyunder said covering; the covering and supporting means therefor being so arranged relative to the body and body, the uppermost of said members being formed as a cover for the entire body, and a tent-like and flexible covering for the body and bed members whenthe latter are outstretched permanently secured, along the outer edges of the bed members and arranged when said members are folded to lie entirely between the bed members.

3. A camping structure comprising a.

body, bed members hinged along opposite sides of the same and adapted to be swung.

outwardly to lie in horizontal and opposed relation or to be folded-to lie in superimposed order and ininverted relation on the body, rigid frames permanently hinged at their lower ends onto the opposite ends of the body inwardly of the same, and adapted to fold into the body lengthwise thereof and between the beds when the latter are folded, and flexible members extending between said beds and frames to brace the beds against further downward movement, said flexible members being foldable with the frames.

4. A campin structure comprising a body, bed mem rs hin ed along opposite sides of the body and a apted to be swun outwardly to lie inhorizontal and oppo relation or to be folded to lie in superimposed order and in inverted relation on the ody, a tent-like and-flexible coverin the body and bed members when the latter are outstretched, permanently mounted in connection therewith; and foldable means for supporting said covering in an outstretched position permanently mounted on the body in a manner to enable said means when folded with the beds to lie between the upper and lower bedmembers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ERASMUS O, HUMPHREY.

for 

